Frequently Asked Questions
a. How much does it cost to attend WSU?
2009-2010 tuition for residents is $149.90 per credit hour (not including any fees). For residents there is a Federal Stimulus Scholarship of $5.50 per credit hour. For non-residents tuition is $417.70 per credit hour (not including any fees). All students pay a student fee of $27.60 per credit hour and facilities fee of $3.60 per credit hour. There is a $17.00 registration fee charged per semester. These rates do not include lab fees or special course fees that students may encounter at WSU.
b. How much is room and board for one year at WSU?
The average room and board for a double room (with a roommate) in Fairmount Towers for the 2009-2010 academic year is $6060.00 based on a 19 Max Meal Plan. The average room and board rate for a standard double room (with a roommate) in Brennan Hall for the 2009-2010 academic year is $5350.00 based on a 19 Max Meal Plan. The average apartment rate for an unfurnished apartment in Wheatshocker Apartments (without a roommate) for the 2009-2010 academic year is $445.00 per month, not including a meal plan.
Rates include room/apartment, meal plan (depending on the building/contract), local telephone service with voice mail, basic cable television service, an activity fee and data connections.
For more information about Housing and Residence Life, visit www.wichita.edu/housing.
a. I am transferring from another college. What do I need to do to become a Shocker?
Transfer students should make sure that they meet our admissions criteria and apply for admission at least one semester prior to transferring to WSU.
Requirements for admissions:
-Application and $30 non-refundable application fee
**Apply online here **
-Have official transcripts from all previous colleges sent directly to WSU.
-Meet the following requirements depending on how many hours of transfer credit you will be bringing to WSU:
**Transfer students who graduated from high school in May 2001 or after with fewer than 23 transfer hours:
- Must have a minimum college cumulative GPA of 2.00 on a 4.00 scale AND
- Must achieve an ACT composite score of 21 or above or a minimum combined SAT score of 980; OR rank in the top one-third of their high school graduating class; OR complete the pre-college curriculum with at least a 2.0 high school GPA on a 4.0 scale (2.5 for non-residents)
**Transfer students with more than 24 transfer hours must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 on a 4.00 scale on all previous college work.
Transfer students can also explore WSU by visiting with one of our transfer recruitment coordinators. Visit the admissions Web site to learn more about our transfer recruitment coordinators and about our transfer procedures. Click here: Transfer Guide to see if there is a transfer guide available to download for your college.
For more transfer student information, click here.
b. Does WSU offer scholarships to transfer students?
Yes. For more information, click here.
Students may also receive scholarships through their individual academic departments. Once you have been admitted, please contact your advisor for more information.
c. Can I hand-carry my transcripts?
Yes, but certain rules and restrictions apply. Click here for more information.
d. Do I need to apply for housing? Can I live on campus?
If you have less than 30 hours of transfer credit or do not fit into one of the exemption categories, you are required to live on campus. We offer options for upper-classmen as well as non-traditional students. For more information on housing and exemptions, please visit www.wichita.edu/housing.
3. Financial Aid and Scholarships
a. What scholarships does WSU have to offer?Wichita State offers students a wide range of scholarships. In fact, WSU awarded nearly $8 million in scholarships last year and awards the three largest scholarships in the state, plus more:
- Harry S. Gore Memorial Scholarships—Each year, two incoming freshman each will receive a $48,000 Gore Scholarship by competing in the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational (DSI).
- Clay Barton Scholarship—Incoming freshmen who plan to study business can apply for the $44,000 Clay Barton Scholarship.
- Lenora McGregor Scholarship—Up to $26,000 is awarded each year to a student who shows academic excellence (including freshmen).
- Wallace Invitational—Incoming freshmen who plan to study engineering can compete for various scholarships through this competition.
These are awarded in the fall each year and are for eligible high school seniors. Please click here for more information.
WSU also offers a variety of general scholarships. These awards vary in amount and are awarded on a first received, first reviewed basis. There is a November 1 deadline to be considered for our highly competitive and limited renewable general scholarships.
- General Scholarships—For information on how to apply for general scholarships, click here. And download the PDF of the Scholarship Cover Sheet.
Students may apply outside scholarships to their WSU tuition and fees. Contact WSU’s Office of Financial Aid to learn more.
To find contact information for the scholarship coordinators in each academic college, please visit our list of departmental scholarship contacts.
b. How many students are usually awarded financial assistance each year at WSU?
Approximately 61 percent of all WSU undergraduates receive some form of financial assistance.
Approximately 36 percent of students who apply for financial aid receive need-based gift aid, while approximately 49 percent of students receive need-based self-help aid.
The number of students who receive merit-based aid changes frequently due to the abundant number of scholarships awarded each semester.
The average financial package exceeds $7,942 for full time undergraduates.
For more information, please visit the WSU Office of Financial Aid
c. How do I apply for general and academic scholarships?
To apply for general scholarships, incoming students must have the following on file with WSU’s Office of Financial Aid:
New Incoming Freshmen
-Be fully admitted to WSU. (Click here to view the admissions requirements.)
-Have all scholarship materials on file with the Office of Financial Aid. These materials are:
-A typed essay limited to 1000 words describing what is important to you. Your essay allows us to get to know you beyond your grades and test scores. You may include special interests, talents, goals or unique experiences. It should not, however, be a restatement of your activities chart. Your essay should include long- and short-term goals.
-A typed activities chart including your academic, leadership, extracurricular, community service and work experiences. Specify time commitment and any leadership roles or special accomplishments. Click here for an example.
Transfer Students
-Be fully admitted to WSU. (Click here to view the admissions requirements.)
-Have all scholarship materials on file with the Office of Financial Aid. These materials are:
-A typed essay limited to 1000 words describing what is important to you. Your essay allows us to get to know you beyond your grades and test scores. You may include special interests, talents, goals or unique experiences. It should not, however, be a restatement of your activities chart. Your essay should include long- and short-term goals.
-A typed activities chart including your academic, leadership, extracurricular, community service and work experiences. Specify time commitment and any leadership roles or special accomplishments. Click here for an example. **If you have fewer than 24 hours of transfer credit, you can include high school activities on your activities chart.
Returning Adult
Students
-Be fully admitted to WSU. (Click
here to view the admissions requirements.)
-Have all scholarship materials on file with the Office of Financial Aid. These materials are:
Submit a typed, one-page essay telling us more about yourself. You may use your statement to highlight your special interests, talents, goals or unique experiences. Please include long-range goals. The essay allows you to provide additional information for consideration by the scholarship committee.
a. What are the students like at WSU? I
In the fall of 2008, WSU was home to 11,600 undergraduate students. Of those, 5,283 were males, and 6,317 were females.
The ethnic breakdown of WSU students is as follows:
- African American--6 percent
- American Indian or Alaskan Native--1 percent
- Asian or Pacific Islander--6 percent
- Hispanic--7 percent
- International--7 percent
- White--67 percent
- Unknown--8 percent
There are 1,420 freshmen enrolled for the most recent semester.
The average class size at WSU averages about 19 students.
2 to 9 students in a
class--22 percent
10-19 students in a
class--24 percent
20-29 students in a
class--23 percent
30-39 students in a
class --14 percent
40-49 students in a
class --6 percent
50-99 students in a
class --9 percent
100+ students in a
class --2 percent
68 percent of the classes are taught by professors or associate professors.
10 percent of the classes are taught by graduate student assistants.
The student to faculty ratio is 18:1
The average high school GPA of WSU students is 3.55.
The average SAT combined score of WSU students is 1093.
The average ACT score of WSU students is 23.
Approximately half the students at WSU attend full-time, while the other half attend part-time and take advantage of gaining work experience at local companies such as Boeing, Raytheon Aircraft, Cessna Aircraft, Coleman, Bank of America, Bombardier Aerospace Learjet, Spirit AeroSystem, Via Christi Regional Medical Center, Wesley Medical Center, and Koch Industries. Wichita State students also take advantage of hundreds of campus activities, plus they enjoy the largest selection of malls, shops, restaurants, clubs, golf courses, amusement parks, and movie theaters in the entire state.
For more information, please visit WSU's Office of Institutional Research
a. How do I apply to WSU?
Students must follow these steps to apply to WSU:
Freshman
Apply anytime after your
junior year of high school
· Completed paper or
online application
· Official high school transcripts sent directly to WSU
· ACT or SAT scores sent directly to WSU
· Non-refundable $30 application fee
Transfer Students
(With 23 hours or less)
Apply at least one
semester before transferring to WSU
· Completed paper or
online application
· Official high school transcripts sent directly to WSU
· Official college transcripts sent directly to WSU from all colleges attended
· ACT or SAT scores sent directly to WSU
· Non-refundable $30 application fee
Transfer Students
(With more than 24 hours)
Apply at least one
semester before transferring to WSU
· Completed paper or
online application
· Official college transcripts sent directly to WSU from all colleges
attended
· Non-refundable $30 application fee
For more information, please visit the WSU Online Application.
Wichita State has a rolling admissions policy for all incoming students (except high school guests, click here for high school guest information), which means applications are processed as they are received. Students should apply early, prior to the semester they want to begin taking classes.
Students must be fully admitted as a degree-bound student to receive financial aid, invitations to WSU’s scholarship competitions or to be considered for academic/general scholarships.
Applications are accepted for the fall, spring and summer semesters.
Students should expect to receive a decision from WSU within two weeks after the Office of Admissions receives all of the necessary application materials including transcripts and ACT/SAT scores.
For more information, please visit the WSU Online Application Instructions
c. What are the basic requirements to be admitted?
For complete admissions requirements, please visit www.wichita.edu/admissions/requirements.
For more information on how to apply, please visit WSU's Online Application.
d. Who can I contact about my application status?
Students can contact the Office of Admissions at WSU to find out the status of an admission application. To contact admissions, please call (316) 978-3085 or (800) 362-2594.
Students should contact the Office of Financial Aid to inquire about the status of their financial aid application or scholarship award status. To contact financial aid, please call (316) 978-3430 or (800) 522-2978 or visit the financial aid Web site.
e. What if I apply to WSU but want to change information on
my application or update my semester of attendance?
If you have applied to WSU within the last two years, click
here to fill out
an online update form or contact the Office of Admissions at (316) 978 – 3085 or
(800) 362 – 2594. If you applied over two years ago, you will need to reapply to
the university. Click
here
to apply online. If you are unsure of when you were admitted, please contact the
Office of Admissions at the numbers above.
f. What if I am admitted to WSU but am unable to attend until a later semester?
If you have been admitted to WSU within the last two years, click here to fill out an online update form or contact the Office of Admissions at (316) 978 – 3085 or (800) 362 – 2594. If you were admitted over two years ago, you will need to reapply to the university. Click here to apply online. If you are unsure of when you were admitted, please contact the Office of Admissions at the numbers above.
g. What if I previously took classes as a high school guest
student (i.e., I was enrolled at WSU and in high school at the same time)?
You will likely NOT need to reapply for admission, but rather you’ll need to
update to a degree-bound status with us. We will need official transcripts for
any colleges you have previously attended in order to update your file. Please
contact the Office of Admissions at (316) 978-3085, (800) 362-2594 or visit the
Marcus Welcome Center to discuss your specific situation with our staff.
h. How does WSU accept transcripts and ACT scores?
WSU accepts transcripts and ACT in a variety of ways. Click
here for more
information.
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i. Is there a form needed for a midterm/early high school
graduate?
Yes there is a form required for midterm/early high school graduates. Click
here to access this form.
a. What majors does WSU offer?
WSU currently awards 65 undergraduate degrees in these six academic colleges:
You may find a complete list of degree programs by visiting our online majors list.
b. What are the general educational requirements at WSU?
To ensure that all WSU students receive a broad foundation for learning while in college, students must complete our general education program. Although specific requirements depend on majors, a broad outline of the general education program includes the following:
All undergraduate students, regardless of major, must take certain basic skills classes or meet the requirements for those classes. All students must complete: (1) English Composition or College English 1; (2) College English 2; (3) Public Speaking; and (4) College Algebra.
In addition, students must complete classes in several academic divisions, including fine arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences and mathematics and natural sciences. As a part of these requirements, students must successfully complete a combination of (1) introductory course and (2) further study or issues and perspectives courses in each of these divisions.
You should contact an advisor in your area of study for more specific information.
Our catalogs are available at the campus bookstore on the first floor of the Rhatigan Student Center and online:
c. Where can I find WSU’s academic calendar?
Wichita State operates on a traditional academic calendar that includes 15-week fall and spring semesters and a shorter summer semester. During the two weeks prior to the beginning of each semester, students may enroll in two-week pre-session courses.
To access our academic calendar, visit our Online Calendar.
d. Where can I find the courses that are offered at WSU?
You may learn about the courses available at WSU by visiting http://www.wichita.edu/registrar.
You may order a course catalog with explanations of the classes offered at WSU by contacting the WSU Bookstore by phone at (316) 978-3490 or visit them online at http://www.wsubooks.com.
e. Can I receive AP and/or IB credit at WSU?
Students who are interested in learning about WSU's policy on advanced placement credit should contact our Counseling and Testing Center by phone at (316) 978-3440 or visit them online.
The Counseling and Testing Center will review advanced placement scores and award appropriate credit. Students should have their score reports sent directly to:
Wichita State University
Counseling and Testing Center
1845 Fairmount
Wichita, KS 67260-0091
All credits earned at an accredited institution will transfer to Wichita State. However, students must speak to their academic advisor to determine if the credits will apply to their degree programs. For information about admission for transfer students, please visit us online.
f. Does WSU offer distance learning courses?
WSU offers several options for students who want to participate in distance education. Students can enroll in telecourses that are broadcast on WSU’s cable television channel, video-conference classes delivered through a statewide network called TELENET 2 and classes offered via the Internet.
For information about the current semester's distance learning options, visit the online Schedule of Courses.
7. International and Graduate Students
a. I’m an international student. Who can I contact for further information?
To find out more information, please visit the Office of International Admissions.
b. I’m a graduate student. Where can I find out more information about grad classes?
There are about 3,100 graduate students at WSU, which is roughly one out of every five WSU students. Graduate students can earn master’s degrees in 39 areas of study and can study in nine doctoral programs.
For more information, please visit the WSU Graduate School
a. What on-campus housing does WSU offer?
Living on campus lets you go away to school whether you live across town or across the country! We offer housing options to meet the needs of just about any student. On-campus housing is available for more than 1,150 students in Fairmount Towers, Wheatshocker Apartments and Brennan Hall. Housing options include an honors floor, a fine arts floor, smoke-free floors, suite-style residence hall rooms and a variety of apartment units.
Freshmen are required to live at Fairmount Towers or Brennan Hall during their first two semesters of college. Exceptions are made for freshmen who are 21 years of age or older; married; living with a parent, legal guardian, grandparent, aunt or uncle in Sedgwick County; taking fewer than nine credit hours; or living in official Greek housing. Students must have an approved exemption form on file with WSU housing. Exemption form link
Admission to WSU does not mean automatic room reservations. Each student admitted needs to complete a contract and an application card and pay an application fee and prepayment/deposit to reserve a room or apartment.
Students who have an approved exemption form or are an upper-classman may live off-campus while studying at WSU. There are numerous apartment complexes and houses for rent near campus. Also, some fraternities and sororities offer housing options to their members.
For more information about living in Wichita, visit the City of Wichita.
Approximately 29 percent of first-time, full-time freshman and 9 percent of other undergraduate students live on campus. There are currently 1,100 students living on campus.
For any additional information please visit WSU Office of Housing and Residence Life.
a. What is my next step after I get admitted to WSU?
Academic advising is a key element in students’ success. Each student at WSU is paired with a knowledgeable advisor who's interest lies in the students' personal and intellectual development and academic and career success.
Students may expect their advisors to listen and respond to their interests and concerns; to accept them as unique persons; to be reasonably accessible; to know policies, procedures and information sources; and to be a personal resource for academic, career and life goals.
At WSU, advising is offered through several individual offices. For more information about specific advising offices, visit the Orientation website.
a. What are athletics like at WSU?
Athletic traditions at WSU are abundant! In fact, it was on our campus in 1905 when the very first night football game was played west of the Missouri River, thanks to a field lined with Coleman gas lanterns. Since then, WSU teams have been to the Final Four, won the College World Series, played host to some of the greatest athletes in the world, and appeared in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. And, as a WSU student, you can receive a free ticket to all WSU athletic events!
Today, Wichita State is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. WSU men compete in basketball, baseball, track/cross country, tennis and golf, while WSU women compete in basketball, softball, track, tennis, golf and volleyball.
The University also hosts bowling and crew teams as independent sports. Our bowling teams are high caliber competitors. Between them, they have won 16 national championships - more than any collegiate bowling program in the country!
For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit Shocker Athletics.
b. Where is the WSU campus located?
When you come to WSU, you gain not only a vibrant university community, but an entire city! Wichita, home of WSU, is the largest city in Kansas—the state’s cultural, educational, health care, financial and business center. Approximately 400,000 people live in the Wichita urban area, making the area large enough to offer various cultural and entertainment options while maintaining the hospitality of a mid-sized Midwestern city.
A few areas of interest in Wichita include a revitalized “Old Town,” with a farm and art market and numerous restaurants and shopping options; four major shopping centers; five major movie houses; a thriving museum district including science and art museums; various sporting options including hockey and baseball teams; and various parks, golf courses, tennis courts and an ice-skating arena.
Several large cities, including Kansas City, Oklahoma City, St. Louis and Dallas, are within a few hours drive. These areas provide additional cultural and recreational opportunities for WSU students.
For more about Wichita, please visit the City of Wichita.